By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
With the growing pace of banditry and general insecurity in the country, Kwara and Niger states’ governments are collaborating to strenghthen security efforts.
The Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who dropped this hint at the state executive council meeting in Ilorin, said that the collaboration would help to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties in the two states.
Expresing grave concerns over reports of degradation of multi-billion naira natural endowments in parts of Baruten Local Government Area, in the Northern flank of Kwara State, sharing close borders with Niger State, AbdulRahman said that he would reach out to his Niger State counterpart for maximum security collaborations to put an end to the criminal activities.
The Kwara governor disclosed that both Kwara and Niger states accounted for 60 per cent of shea butter production in the country, but regretted that deforestation activities by some of these criminal elements in parts of the state constituted serious danger to preservation of natural endowments that both states have.
For instance, the governor lamented the increasing exportation of firewood and charcoal from the state, stressing that the state government would deepen mass enlightenment on the use of gas in place of firewood and charcoal to protect the forests.
AbdulRahaman also called on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, to also deem it necessary to work towards bringing down the cost of cooking gas to make it more affordable to the citizenry as a sustainable alternative to cooking with fire wood.
Swearing-in three new members of the State Executive Council at the meeting, Governor AbdulRahman charged them to team up with their old colleagues in strengthening governance and working towards meeting the expectations of the people of the state, inspite of dwindling resources.
He added, “It is not yet time for full-blown party politics. Let’s concentrate on governance, full blown politics will come later.”
The governor called on all the members of the SEC to rather be proactive on security and developmental issues in their respective local government areas and communities.
